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STUART — Famed Stuart attorney Willie Gary said Friday he is the target of a $20-million extortion scheme by a woman who accused him of sexual battery. Gary said a friend of the woman called repeatedly, offering to “make the problem go away” if he paid. Gary said Stuart police are investigating the woman's claims and a counter report of his own, but he maintained he is absolutely innocent. "I am aware that some people, a group of people, have made a false claim against me involving sexual battery, and it's absolutely, positively false . . ." said the attorney,...

Police are investigating a famous Treasure Coast lawyer in a case involving sexual battery. Attorney Willie Gary claims he's being extorted for millions of dollars. Gary tells Newschannel 5 a woman accused him of sexual battery. "There's no basis for it," says Gary. "I mean not even close. Not one iota of basis for it. It's just about money." According to Stuart Police, the alleged rape happened at a Best Western on U.S. 1 on August 17th. Gary says it never happened and someone is trying to extort him. "This ain't about no rape, this is about money," says Gary....

Vigil for murdered Maryland Federal Prosecutor, Jonathan Luna to be held Sunday Dec. 4, Due to numerous requests, please be advised that tomorrow's vigil for Jonathan Luna is open to the public, and we request all who can to please attend. Check Mapquest.com for directions. Use this address: Sensenig and Weaver Well Drilling Co., at 1439 Dry Tavern Road, in Denver, PA Second anniversary of slain federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna’s death to be marked by vigil at murder scene Friends and supporters of slain federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna will mark the second anniversary of his death, on December 4, 2005,...

The state prosecutor is investigating how Gilbert Sapperstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to steal $3.3 million from the city schools, managed to have nine months shaved off his sentence while serving the remainder on home detention in the suburban comforts of his Green Spring Valley home. snip Sapperstein, who owns All-State Boiler Service Inc., pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy, bribery and theft in connection with a scheme to defraud the city school system. He admitted to paying bribes to a city schools employee in exchange for fraudulent work orders...

Gilbert Sapperstein apologized yesterday for his role in a scheme to steal more than $3.3 million from the city school system - but the grandfather and businessman received little sympathy as he was sentenced to 18 months in jail. "I made a mistake, and I embarrassed my family," said Sapperstein, who pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy, bribery and theft. In a plea deal with the state prosecutor's office, Sapperstein, 72, a Green Spring Valley resident and owner of All State Boiler Service Inc., also agreed to pay back the stolen money. Baltimore Circuit Judge John M. Glynn snapped back...

The Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners has allowed a handful of people, many of them vendors who lease poker machines and pool tables to bars, to hold onto and sell valuable liquor licenses long after the licenses should have expired. State law dictates that inactive licenses die after 180 days without an extension by the liquor board, or 360 days maximum. But a review of inactive licenses by The Sun shows that a number of people have gotten around the law, including Gilbert Sapperstein, owner of All-State Boiler Service Inc., who in May pleaded guilty to conspiracy, bribery...

EXCERPT : The job of U.S. attorney is a political appointment. The top man in any U.S. attorney's office comes and goes. The real continuity in the office rests in the hands of scores of often anonymous assistant U.S. attorneys working there. DiBiagio had a foot planted in both worlds. Before his appointment as U.S. attorney by the Bush administration, DiBiagio worked in the Maryland office as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1991 to 2000. So he was a longtime internal operative. He's a graduate of Dickinson College, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and the University of Richmond, where he earned his...

Mobtown Beat | Business Hot Contract City Bribery Scandal Tied to Influential Father and Son BOILERPLATE: Allstate Boiler Service, a company owned by Gilbert Sapperstein and housed in a building owned by his son, Mark Sapperstein, is involved in bribery scandal being investigated by the state. By Van Smith Mark Sapperstein owns 113 W. Hamburg St., an 8,000-square-foot commercial building in Sharp-Leadenhall. The South Baltimore property, though devoid of signs, houses Allstate Boiler Service, a company owned by Gilbert Sapperstein, Mark’s 73-year-old father. On Jan. 7, Allstate Boiler’s bookkeeper and office manager, Ida Marie Beran, pled guilty in a bribery...

Ehrlich respects his elders, especially the good ol' boys Dan Rodricks Originally published Jan 22, 2004 IGUESS BOBBY Governor's next big announcement will be that he's bringing Joe Staszak (see note at the end of this column) back from the dead to serve as racino commissioner. I like what I've been seeing in the Ehrlich administration -- giving the old guys another round. It's like they're dispensing political Viagra on State Circle. Our governor is young, he's dynamic, he has virtually no sideburns, and he's very respectful of the elderly, particularly the been-there-done-that pols who were hot when Mandel...

Subject:Congressional Judicial Abuse Task Force Update STOP BAD JUSTICE UPDATE 1-14-04 From: "Joe Norman" First, I would like to thank the many that have called Congressmen/women who are on the JUDICIAL ABUSE TASK FORCE to express your concerns for the state of the judiciary. Your efforts are much appreciated. Second, I talked with the JUDICIAL ABUSE TASK FORCE representative of Congressman Lamar Smith yesterday and it was evident the office had heard from many of you. The TASK FORCE has changed its name to HOUSE JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY WORKING GROUP and will hold meetings in the next few weeks to decide...

IF YOU WANT JUDICIAL REFORM THIS WEEK IS CRUCIAL--PLEASE CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD From: Joe Norman II Subject: STOP BAD JUSTICE PROJECT NEWS AND THIS IS THE WEEK TO BE HEARD Congress returns from the Christmas recess next week and will hold meetings to establish the calendar for the next session. The most important group meeting for JUDICIAL REFORM in American history will occur soon after congress returns. This group called the JUDICIAL ABUSE TASK FORCE was organized by Congressmen Lamar Smith of Texas and Steve Chabot of Ohio and was announced on July 23, 2003. It is...

Buying Justice Robert Lenzner and Matthew Miller, 07.21.03 For years the trial lawyers had state courts wrapped around their fingers. Now big business is striking back. It is waging a secret election-campaign war on judges who favor plaintiffs in tort cases. Justice C.P. (Chuck) McRae is adored by trial lawyers--and reviled by business. A colorful, cocky figure who drives a motorcycle to the courthouse and dresses in cowboy boots, blue jeans and lots of leather, he was once president of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association. Nearly all of his $700,000 campaign fund in 2000 came in the form of $5,000...

Subject: Fw: MASSIVE!!! PUBLIC OUTCRY NEEDED DURING NEXT 5 WEEKS FOR JUDICIAL REFORM HEARINGS Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2003 10:00:34 -0500 From: "Joe Norman" ----- Original Message ----- From: JOSEPHN126@aol.com Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2003 9:04 PM MASSIVE!!! PUBLIC OUTCRY NEEDED DURING NEXT 5 WEEKS FOR JUDICIAL REFORM HEARINGS Congress is currently completing its business for 2003. When Congress returns from the Christmas recess there will be meetings to set the agenda calendar for the spring 2004 session, I am assured the STOP BAD JUSTICE PROJECT will be on the table for discussion. Timing is everything and the time for...

Norris pleads not guilty Former city police chief denies misuse of fund; aide also pleads innocent; 'Expenditures were appropriate'; U.S. indictment accuses men of illegally spending $20,000 on trips and gifts Former Maryland State Police Superintendent Edward T. Norris pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court yesterday to federal charges that he illegally spent about $20,000 in Baltimore police funds when he was the city's top officer to cover personal gifts, meals, trips and extramarital romantic liaisons. Balance of story here: http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/crime/bal-te.md.norris12dec12,0,185359.story?coll=bal-local-headlines